Paddle Wheeler

The S. S. Klondike, now a museum, is the only remaining paddle wheeler left in the Yukon since the glory days of the gold rush. The majestic paddle-wheelers added to the look and feel of the Yukon's colorful history, and the romance of the Gold rush. These paddle-wheelers made the 740 Km trip downstream to Dawson City in 36 hours which included one stop for wood. The return trip upstream took anywhere from four to five days and five to seven wood-stops. It is impressive to see one of them today, it must have been awe-inspiring in the days when a fleet of them weaved their way along the mighty Yukon river carrying passengers and supplies to the gold fields.

Carcross

At the end of the historic White Pass and Yukon Route railway is the amazingly beautiful town of Carcross. Carcross got it's name as it is near the location of the annual caribou migration. The main street (main block as I would call it) is the home of the historic Matthew Watson General Store which has been in operation since 1910. This community has an amazing spiritual history linked to ancient times before the gold rush. This town, it's history and and its people make it is one of my favorite places on the planet.

To see more images of this beautiful community check out:

http://explorenorth.com/library/communities/canada/carcrossphotos.html

Gold Rush Train

We have been on and enjoyed the comfort of the bullet trains of Europe, Asia, and Japan which are as fast-moving and as high-speed, as the cultures they serve. But as swift and sporty as those bullet trains are they cannot compare to the experience of riding the slow-moving narrow gauge railway as it twists and turns through tunnels and over numerous bridges and trestles from sea-level at Skagway up 1000 m over the mountains to the Yukon. Not only was it a trip forward along one of the most beautiful parts of the world, it was also a trip backward in time. The leisurely journey along the route of the historical Chilkoot trail, with a stop off for a traditional prospectors lunch at lake Bennett, gave us views of waterfalls, glaciers, tundra and countless ravines and historical objects abandoned by gold seekers at the turn of the century. Although we were following the Gold-Rush Trail, today it is good journey to take when you are in no particular rush.

White pass and Yukon route

The Contractor that built the railway said "Give me enough dynamite and chewing tobacco and I'll build a road to Hell." Although in many ways he might have found building his road to Hell a lot easier than building a railway across the frozen mountains. This narrow gauge railroad is one of the few railways built by volunteers, rather than imported immigrants. This is because gold seekers had to stop and make a grub stake, or wait out the winter before heading across the mountains on the Chilkoot trail to the gold fields of the Yukon. So many gold seekers worked on the railroad while they waited for the trail north to open.

Skagway

One of my favorite northern places is Skagway Alaska, the Gateway to the Yukon since the klondike gold rush of 1898. Although over a century has passed there are still many schemers and dreamers that make their way north to this small town of 800 or so residents that still bustles with gold rush glory. Today the wealth is the wealth of history and the money spent by the new adventurers on cruise ships who stop off for a taste of outdoor adventure, shopping and a glimpse of history. The day we flew into Skagway the town had swelled from 800 to around 10 000 visitors from the from four cruise ships.

flying to skagway

We arrived in Juneau Alaska to 23 hours of sunlight and warm and clear skies. (Alaska and Yukon warm in fact even Canada warm). Flying across the land I am reminded that sometimes there is more to see in the middle of nowhere then in any large city. In fact, after traveling the great and ancient cities of the world, I realize that the more 'civilized' we become the more we need to touch base with nature and the earth's great unexplored wilderness. Climbing onto the 9 seat airplane to fly from Juneau to Skagway made me realize that the vast wilderness of the North is not just a place we are passing through or a place we are visiting... it is home.

Leaving Hawaii

A week in the Hawaiian paradise with Leah and Ray was a nice, albeit short, reconnect with back home. We bought some more t-shirts and souvenirs saw the sights, not all the sights though as it is good to save some for next time. Aja and I are off to my old homeland the Yukon and Alaska for three weeks while Leah and Ray return to Victoria. So we say goodbye to the palm trees, the ukuleles, the sand and the surf and head North to Alaska, going north the rush is on.